The inaugural race would be run in mid-2006, at a purpose
built $80 million circuit, with further details - such as
who is funding the project - still 'to be worked out.'

Cancun is Mexico's top tourist spot. The last grand prix in
the country was staged in Mexico City, in 1992.

Thursday's news comes in the same week that F1 supremo
Bernie Ecclestone said he would call off survival talks with
British grand prix organizers because a seven-year deal
elsewhere was being considered.

New tire supplier by 2007
SAO PAULO (GMM - Oct.22) As reported in early September, F1
might get a third combatant in the 'tire war' by 2007.

Korean tire manufacturer 'Kumho' wants to race against
Michelin and Bridgestone at the pinnacle of motor sport.

It has started to implement necessary changes in the R&D
department, and should begin in-house testing next year and
track running in 2006.

''We will invest several million (dollars) just to develop
the (F1) tire,'' said Kumho USA president Kyu Cho. ''We are
looking at the pros and cons of getting involved with the
series.''

Midland might debut next year
SAO PAULO (GMM - Oct.22) As predicted, F1's new Russian team
could be ready to debut in the 2005 Australian grand prix.

Alex Shnaider, a naturalized Canadian, now admits he might
buy Jaguar and Cosworth, which current owner Ford says it'll
only sell as a going concern.

Midland F1's co-founder told Autosport: ''Our number one
choice is to build a team from scratch. But if there's an
interesting situation that could arise within Jaguar and
Cosworth, we would consider buying it.''

Snapping-up Cosworth would solve Midland's quandary of who
to buy a customer F1 engine from.

An official forecast said the chance of rain on grand prix
Sunday has been downgraded from seventy to sixty per cent.

Friday and Saturday should be cloudy but dry.

''Brazil can be funny,'' said the Ferrari driver, who was
born - and still lives part-time - in the sprawling
megalopolis.

He added: ''I think we're getting the bad weather right now
and it's going to get better -- but that's just my gut
feeling.''

Coulthard eyes Williams job
SAO PAULO (GMM - Oct.22) David Coulthard has an eye on the
top Formula One race drive alongside Mark Webber in 2005.

The Scot revealed at Sao Paulo that he still doesn't have a
new contract, but noted the contract recognition board's
decision to block the desired move of Jenson Button to
Williams.

''I think if there is a candidate (for the drive)
available,'' said the unemployed McLaren driver, ''(then) my
credentials are stronger than anyone's out there.''

Something that might strengthen the 33-year-old's case is
that Coulthard has attracted a significant level of interest
from potential personal sponsors.

At McLaren, DC's nine-year employer, they're not allowed.

Coulthard won twelve times for McLaren, and drove for
Williams in 1994 and 1995.

Coulthard backs Bernie
SAO PAULO (GMM - Oct.22) BRDC member and Formula One driver
David Coulthard has backed Bernie Ecclestone's apparent
decision to axe his home British grand prix.

He likened the commercial rights holders' job to that of a
race journalist.

''You sell your services to whoever it happens to be,''
33-year-old Coulthard told the reporter in Sao Paulo. ''So,
do you do a cut price deal with a local newspaper? You
might, but it also might not sustain your lifestyle.''

But Coulthard does not agree with 73-year-old Bernie that
the historic Northamptonshire circuit's facilities are among
the worst on the annual F1 schedule.

He said: ''(They're) definitely not worse than these (in
Brazil).''

Champ teammate 'nice' - Massa
SAO PAULO (GMM - Oct.22) Felipe Massa is looking forward to
having a former world champion as Sauber teammate next
season.

''It's going to be nice having Jacques Villeneuve around,''
said the young Brazilian at home track Interlagos.

22-year-od Massa admits that beating the man who beat
Michael Schumacher to the 1997 drivers' title could be
'fantastic' for his career.

As a prelude, he went wheel-to-wheel with 33-year-old
Villeneuve, currently in a Renault cockpit, at the last
grand prix in Japan.

United front at BAR
SAO PAULO (GMM - Oct.22) For a moment, all seemed well again
-- team principal David Richards put his arm around
disillusioned BAR driver Jenson Button.

The pair, together, faced the media's music in Sao Paulo
just hours after a panel of judges refused to sanction
24-year-old Button's desired move in 2005 to Williams.

''I'm not going to lie,'' said the English driver. ''I'm a
little bit disappointed. But you can't have everything in
life, can you?

''I'm sure we can have a very good year together (in
2005).''

Richards, meanwhile, tried to put a brave face on the
effects of the saga but worked hard to convince the press
that it could ever be ideal 'team building.'

He insisted: ''I think we'll be more open and frank with one
another -- look, we have a bit of repairing to do. First, we
have to convince Jenson that we can give him a car capable
of winning the world championship.''

Heidfeld and Williams
SAO PAULO (GMM - Oct.22) Nick Heidfeld may see the outcome
of the 'Jenson Button saga' as his chance to discard the
label as a Formula One nearly-man.

The German nearly switched to Williams earlier in 2004, but
the temporary Ralf Schumacher fill-in seat was blocked by
current employer Eddie Jordan.

''We're also looking at the new teams to enter (F1) in
2006,'' the 26-year-old told German press agency SID, ''but
we prefer to race next season.''

Lawyer Simon Smith said Stewart, president of the
Silverstone-owning BRDC and a former triple world champion,
was accused of 'libel' after making comments on a BBC radio
show.

A spokesman for the commercial rights holder said Bernie was
'livid' at the suggestion that he reneged on a promise to UK
sport minister Richard Caborn of a two-year contract for the
British grand prix.

The diminutive Davidson finished runner-up in the 2001
British F3 championship for Carlin.

Meanwhile, in Davidson's final 'Friday' test run for BAR
this weekend, the British team will honor the talented
driver with a big star - the same as his helmet design - on
the third car's engine cover.

Button unhappy with 'advice'
SAO PAULO (GMM - Oct.22) Jenson Button has revealed
dissatisfaction with the way his management handled a fouled
switch to Williams.

Not only did the move not come off, his reputation may have
been irreparably damaged amid news headline descriptors
including 'disloyal' and 'deserter.'

The BAR driver said in Sao Paulo: ''I think I was advised
slightly incorrectly, not by just one person but by a group
of people.''

Media reports, though, deny speculation that former Williams
and Jaguar PR man Nav Sidhu is set to replace John Byfield
as 24-year-old Button's manager next season.

However, Sidhu was quoted as explaining that the pair do
intend to work together.

Schu scored a goal
SAO PAULO (GMM - Oct.22) Seven time world champion Michael
Schumacher scored a goal during a charity football match in
Sao Paulo.

The game was promoted by UNESCO to aid the 'Crianca
Esperanza' group which raises money for poor Brazilian
children.

Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello, and Toyota star Jarno
Trulli - who both wore soccer jerseys proclaiming the
charity's name - were also spotted at the game.

''Michael's goal was on a penalty,'' 31-year-old Barrichello
laughed afterwards, ''but mine was a real goal, even if
someone said I was offside -- that sort of thing happens in
Brazil, you see.''

''I don't think (F1) is prepared for that,'' the Ferrari
driver said in Sao Paulo.

31-year-old Barrichello, born here near Interlagos, said the
reality of such a rule is that tire manufacturers will still
take a long-life design 'to the limit' and therefore risk
failures and accidents.

''There is (also) not long to prepare for such a serious
thing,'' he told us, ''and I think a few months is too early
for that -- it leaves me a bit frightened.''

The 24-year-old driver may not be able to join his preferred
team, but - now - at least he knows what color his overalls
will be when 2005 gets racing next March.

''At the circuit it's (been) business as usual,'' Button
told a media conference in Sao Paulo on Thursday, ''but it's
when you go home that you feel it -- you're still thinking
about it, worrying about it.''

BAR principal David Richards, meanwhile, insisted that the
'strong' boss/driver relationship can survive the hiccup of
a $1 million dispute at the contract recognition board.

He said: ''Personally, I don't know a single person in a
good relationship that hasn't had his ups and downs.''

But the Brackley chief refused to be drawn on whether the
tug-of-war with Williams will resurface at the end of 2005.

Brazil set for close race
INTERLAGOS (GMM - Oct.22) BAR and McLaren will be Ferrari's
closest rivals in Brazil, Sao Paulo-born Rubens Barrichello
predicted at Interlagos.

The 31-year-old reckons an inconsistent Renault team may or
may not have a good weekend, and - likewise - Williams are
often too 'up and down.'

The Ferrari driver said: ''I think BAR is going to be very
strong, with that engine, and McLaren, from what I've seen
in terms of aerodynamics and so on, too.''

Often, the first six or eight on the Brazilian grand prix
grid are covered by as little as a few tenths of a second.

McLaren driver David Coulthard said: ''I think it could
possibly be even closer (than that) this time here.''

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